Luciano Spalletti will have to serve a one-match suspension for Juventus’s Serie A match against Lazio after being sent off at the end of his side’s 1-1 draw against Cagliari this weekend and will be replaced in the dugout by his long-term assistant Marco Domenichini.
Why is Spalletti suspended for Juventus vs. Lazio?
Spalletti and his Cagliari counterpart Fabio Pisacane were both shown red cards shortly after the full-time whistle at the end of the 1-1 draw between Juventus and the Sardinian side last Sunday.
REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 13: Luciano Spalletti Head Coach of Juventus reacts during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and Juventus at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on September 13, 2026 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
Spalletti was visibly frustrated when going up for the customary post-match handshake, taking a stern tone towards his opposite number while gripping him by the elbow. The Juventus coach appeared to lean in towards Pisacane while still shouting before the pair were separated by their colleagues.
Spalletti admitted shortly afterwards that he was frustrated with what he saw as a time-wasting end to the game by his opponents.
Spalletti and Pisacane were both given one-match suspensions, which they will have to serve this weekend. Spalletti will miss out on Sunday evening’s home match against Lazio and will be replaced by his long-term assistant Domenichini.
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: Head coach Italy Luciano Spalletti and assistant coach Italy Marco Domenichini sing the national anthem prior to during the UEFA EURO 2024 European qualifier match between Italy and Ukraine at Stadio San Siro on September 12, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Domenichini has served as Spalletti’s assistant for over 20 years, beginning their working relationship at Udinese in 2002. They have since worked together at Roma between 2005 and 2009, at Zenit St Petersburg between 2009 and 2014, again at Roma in 2016-17, at Inter between 2017 and 2019, at Napoli between 2021 and 2023 and with the Italy national team between 2023 and 2025.